Madison Heights Family Law

Madison Heights, Michigan, is a suburb of Detroit. According to the census completed in 2010, this city, located in Oakland County, had a population of nearly 30,000. Of the more than 12,700 households that have been established in this city, 7,543 of them were comprised of families. While most people who make up these thousands of families are probably happy, there are a number of them that will need legal help in the future.

Divorce is Still Common

One of the most common scenarios that befalls families of all sizes and shapes is divorce. Since the statistics of today still state that the ratio of marriages to divorces hovers around 2:1, there are a number of familial units that need help navigating the intricacies that divorce brings to a person's life. While not as common, annulment, which is when a marriage is dissolved in such as way that never really occurred, at least in the legal sense, also requires the expertise of a family law attorney that is experienced in handling this delicate matter.

The Mingling of Property

When two people decide to get married, they almost always end up combining many of the important aspects of their lives. Most commonly this means they have joint financial accounts, purchase property together and sign financial contracts as co-borrowers. This also means that issues such as property division need to be sorted out since many couples are not able to work out an agreement that is mutually agreeable to both parties. In addition, if there is one spouse that was the primary breadwinner while the other stayed home, spousal support could be in order.

Children Bring Added Complications

If children were born as a result of the marriage, deciding which parent they live with is often a source of contention. Sorting out the best solution for all parties involved takes the expertise and communication skills of an attorney who has experience with family law. Part of this issue is that, typically, the person with whom the children live as their primary parent is that one who is also awarded child support. For those couples who have infidelity in their relationship, there could be a paternity issue that needs to be addressed as well.

Being Proactive Prior to Marriage

As people are getting married later in life, many times after they have already established themselves in their careers, many turn to prenuptial agreement to protect the assets they bring to the marriage. Prenuptial agreements are also common when one partner brings children from a previous relationship into the marriage. In both of these scenarios, these agreements lay out the terms that are in effect when the individuals get married, Most such agreements involve matter such as limits on how much the partner who comes into the marriage is obligated to share their assets, if the union should dissolve.

Divorce is typically a complicated matter with many different scenarios. It is important that each member of the divorcing partnership has the best legal representation they can find. Contact Attorney Jannelle Zawadieh today for a FREE consultation.